Field Trip Details

Water to Wine & Alcantara Vineyards

Meet Friends Executive Director, Nancy Steele for a paddle down the Verde River! Meet at Alcantara Vineyards where Verde Adventures will shuttle you to the river put-in point and go over safety measures for the paddle ahead! The trip will take 2.5 hours, floating back to the Verde Adventures Beach at Alcantara Vineyards. Once back on dry land, you will receive a $20.00 voucher for food or wine! This trip now includes an e-bike tour around the vineyard before taking to the water!

Trip Details:

Self Drive to Verde Adventures beach at Alcantara
Verde Adventures shuttles you to the river put-in point and orients you to the river and your boat.
You will paddle and float down the river to Alcantara. The float takes about 2-3 hours depending.
Back at the Verde Adventures beach, you will receive a voucher for wine or snacks at Alcantara. $20.00 voucher for food or wine after the trip!

Time: 9:30am - 1:30pm

Meeting Location: Alcantara Vineyard and Winery at 3445 S Grapevine Way, Camp Verde, AZ 86322

Cost: $99.00

Agriculture Along the River

Explore Rancho Tres Brisas, a family run cattle ranch made up of over 100 acres and borders the Verde River. This walking tour will start off along the river, exploring a variety of habitats, observing invasive species removal locations and hopefully see a bird or two along the way. We will then be led by Jeni O’Callaghan, President of the Friends of Verde River and owner of Rancho Tres Brisas, as well as John Ford, Verde River Project Manager with The Nature Conservancy who will give a talk on the Ranch’s history and the present day’s efforts to protect the Verde River within local agricultural facilities. After our tour, we will be treated to a lunch featuring beef from Tres Brisas Beef (vegetarian options available as well).

Trip Details:

Lunch included
This trip will be up to 1-mile of walking on mostly level, but sometimes rough ground.
Similar to VVBNF tour only will discuss more river related topics + tour the ranch and give history of ranch
Farm to table lunch with vegetarian options available
Restrooms will be available at the Ranch

Time: 9am - 1pm

Meeting Location: 5998 Tres Brisas Lane, Camp Verde

Verde Watershed Headwaters

Gary Beverly and Kim Schonek will guide our group north for a drive through the Verde River Watershed - stopping at Prescott Water Wells, Del Rio Springs and Sullivan Dam. After exploring the headwaters - enjoy lunch in the shade by the Verde River before walking to Granite Creek! This tour has high hopes of seeing Bald Eagles, beaver dams and different wildlife as well as a look into the natural history of the area. This trip will primarily focus on the conservation issues surrounding the upper Verde River, which is particularly threatened by groundwater pumping that will eventually transform the upper Verde into a dry wash, destroying the riparian habitat of fifteen threatened and endangered species.

Trip Details:

Van Shuttle leaving from Cliff Castle Casino @ 8am
Pack your own lunch - coolers will be provided to store meals

Time: 8am - 2pm

Meeting Location: Cliff Castle Hotel & Casino, Shuttle leaves at 8am.

Health & Physical Guidelines: This field-trip will involve walking primarily on natural trails with moderate elevation change (~100 feet). All attendees should be able to walk on uneven surfaces for at least 2 miles without assistance. (Please contact us if you have questions about this trip!)

Registration is limited